Gaston County voters who wanted to cast an early ballot in a city election previously had to drive to Gastonia.

Beginning Thursday, residents in the county’s outlying corners will find the process more convenient.

Early voting will begin Thursday at sites in Gastonia, Dallas and Mount Holly. Multiple early voting sites have typically been offered only for mid-year or presidential elections. But the lack of any city races in Gastonia prompted this year’s different approach, said Gaston County Elections Director Adam Ragan.

“We wanted to give people in the outlying communities a chance to do early voting,” he said. “We just want to make it easier and more convenient to vote.”

Forty-two seats are up for grabs, and 76 candidates have filed for election. The races involve 13 different cities and towns.

Five of the eight mayoral races are contested, including those in Cherryville, Cramerton, Lowell, Ranlo and Stanley.

No seats are open in Gastonia, as the city switched to four-year terms for its mayor and City Council in 2006.

No one filed for election in the tiny municipality of Spencer Mountain, where the mayoral post and three Town Council seats are open. That’s been the trend several years, as the mayor and council members have typically been the only people to vote, writing in their names on Election Day.

Only 12 percent to 18 percent of registered voters typically participate in the municipal election. Two years ago, with Gastonia seats up for grabs, turnout climbed to 18.5 percent, Ragan said.

“I think Cramerton and Cherryville will have a little elevated turnout this time because they’re highly contested and heated races,” he said.

Here’s a rundown of the most competitive races across the county:

- Belmont City Council (five candidates seeking two seats)

- Cherryville City Council (six candidates seeking seats in two wards)

- Cramerton Town Commission (six candidates seeking two seats)

- Dallas Board of Aldermen (seven candidates seeking three seats)

- Lowell City Council (seven candidates seeking five seats)

- Ranlo Board of Commissioners (five candidates seeking two seats)

- Ranlo Mayor (three candidates seeking one seat)

You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.